Key holder



H. R. SEGAI.

Nov. zo, 1951 KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 18, 1949 ATTORNEY iatented Nov. 20,-1951l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE glsvsfi, M King HoLDE Hyman Segal, New York, QY; Application Jamiaryus, 1949,' sevria1 N. 71.483

l .This invention relates to keyhold'ers'. It is particularly directed to a keyholder including aplurality of removable suspended orswinging" key carrying loops, each of which may carryl one'or more keys; l

e Keyholders of such general charactery have been made with a plurality of parallel slots land with key carrying loops havingl shanks passing through the slots and heads engagingv the back'o'f the slotted holder, vto suspend the loops from the holder and yet let them swingout for use.. A longitudinally movable :pin was arranged to close up "all the' slots to preventloops from beingf'lis engaged from the holder. In order to disengage the loops from the holder it lwas necessaryto pull out thev pin longitudinally sufcientlyftouncover the slot for the key lo'op it is desired to remove. With such construction, thepin is pulled out, the key loops are successively released, and it sometimes is necessary to release all of the key loops in Vorder to remove the last one in the row. The manipulation of` the pin in suchkeyhol'de'rs'is relatively di'icult;

It is, therefore, an object of the present inven'.- tion to provide a keyholder of the character de"- scribed comprising a supporting plate formed with slots having enlarged portions through which the heads of the key loops may be passed for removv ingthe loops, and a crank-shaft mounted forrotation on the' supporting plate,l andprovidedwith a handle at one end'and having onset-portions adapted, in one angular position of thej cranke shaft to cover the enlarged portionsof the'slots to prevent the key loops from being removed; and said crankshaft being rota-table to another an'- gular position to move the offset portions to una cover the enlarged portions of th'e slots suiciently to permit the heads of the lkey-carrying loops to be moved therethrough, for removing-the key loops'.

Yet another object of this invention is -to prokeyi carrying 'loops against removal. Y

Yet another object Vof this invention `is-.vtoproVY vide a strong, compact, and durable Keyholder.`

of the character'described, which shall bev relatively'inexpensive to manufacture, easy to.man`ip-. ulate; andy which shallyet be practical and ein# cient to a'high degreerin use.

, other objects of thisvinvenuonwi1igiif part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

Claims (cls-mim) The invention accordingly consists in the featuresof construction, combinations of elements', and arrangement of parts, which will bev exemplied in the construction hereinaftei` described, and

of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims. Y t

In' the accompanying drawings in which shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view'of a Keyholder ein bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, with parts brokenv away and in cross-section; f

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view 'of the structure shown in Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line ll-#4 of Fig.l 2; Y

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig; 1,` but showing the crankshaft in position for'releasing` the' key carrying loops;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view ltaken online 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is'an end elevational ViewA of thefkeyholder shown in Fig. 5;- Y

Fig.` 7a is a fragmentary and enlarged view of Fig. A2; n

'Fig. '7b is aifragmentary perspectivevview of the lockingrod; .Y

Fig. 8 isfa gure similar to Fig. 1. but illus-1 trating'a modiiied'construction Referring now in detail to the; drawing,fxl0 designates a keyholderembodying'the invention; Said keyholder comprises a supporting plate Il, alocking crankshaft or rod I2 mounted for'rota-v tion thereon, and a plurality yof key carrying loops orhooks I3 swingably mounted on the supporting plate. Y The-supporting` plate Il comprises a-flat'wall IG formed with al curved notch Il in the uppery right hand corner, looking'at Fig. 2 of the dra-W#- ing; Extending forwardly-from the upperend of the back wall i6 are end iingersl` and- I 9, and a;l plurality of intermediate fingers 20. The finger I8 comprises a forwardly and upwardlyl curvedportion 2l from which extends a rearwardly and; upwardly' inclined` -p'ortion 2.2" terminating .in anl eye 23. The eye 23 is locatedabove' the. top vof Wall I6. The right end edge'of the iinger- I9 is aligned with the left endofthe notch I 'Lla's1 shown in `-Fig..2 of the drawing. The upperend ofthe inclined portion 22 and the eye :23 of' the= rlnge` ISare-cut away, as at 24 atvitsleftside; looking at Fig. 2, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.-

The finger I8 hasits left end edge in alignment with the left edge of the wall I6. The nger I8 is in alignment with the finger IS as well as with the fingers 20. Thus, linger I8 likewise has a forwardly and upwardly curved portion 2 Ia from which extends a rearwardly and upwardly inclined portion 22a terminating in an eye 23a. The upper right hand corner of linger IB is cut away, as at 25, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The intermediate fingers 2D, likewise, each have forwardly and upwardly curved portions 2Ib from which extend upwardly and rearwardly inclined portions 22h terminating in eyes 231)` Between the fingers I8, I9 and 2 are slots 21. The upper corners of the intermediate ngers 2B are notched or cut away, as at 28. Thus, the cut-aways 28, 24 between the nger I9 and the nger adjacent thereto, and cut-aways 28 between adjacent ngers 29 and the cut-aways 25 and 28 between finger I8 and the finger 20 adjacent thereto, form enlarged mouths or throat portions T at the`upper ends of the slots 21.

The key carrying loops or hooks I3 each comprise a shank 35, a bent back looped portion 36, and an enlarged anchoring head 31 at the upper end of each shank. As shown in the drawing, the shank 35 of each loop I3 passes through one of the slots 21. The shanks 35 and the bent back portions 36 normally lie against the front of wall IE and the heads 31 engage the inner surfaces of the curved portions of the :lingers I8, I9, and 223. Thus, the key carrying loops can swing within the slots 21, but are suspended by means of the enlarged heads 31. Said loops may be swung forwardly and upwardly for use, moving along slots 21, but are removably sustained by the supporting plate.

The locking member I2 comprises releasable means for preventing removal of the key carrying loops I3, while permitting said loops to swing. To this end, the locking crankshaft I2 has cylindrical portions 40 journalled in the aligned eyes or bearings 23, 23a and 23h. Between the portions 40 and integral with shaft or rod I2 are offset portions 4I or lugs L adapted to be removably received in the enlarged upper ends or throats of the slots 21 in one position of the crankshaft, thereby simultaneously closing the throats or enlarged upper ends of the slots 21 to prevent the heads 31 of the hooks from moving through the throats of these slots, and thereby retaining the key carrying loops or hooks onthe supporting plate II. At one end of the crankshaft I2 is an offset handle Q4 having a lower curved portion adapted to Contact the front of the plate I6 adjacent the upper end of the notch I1 when the crankshaft is in locking position. Thus, when the crankshaft is in locking position, the handle 44 projects downwardly, whereas, the oifset portions 4I extend substantially at right angles to the handle and project forwardly, looking at Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Fingers I8, I9 and 20 constitute arcuate and spaced and overhanging bowed portions and eyes 23, 23a, and 23h thereof are alined bearings in the form of spaced hollow beads rotatably guiding rod I2, and more specifically the cylindrical stub portions 40 integral with and intervening spaced lugs L thereof.

The cut away portions 24, 25 and companion similar portions 28 in fact characterizing enlarged throats T in communication with respective slots 21. Each throat T embodies the spaced parallel sides S and the horizontally alined but spaced shoulders or stops H.

Portions 4I of lugs L are approximately rectangular in shape and rotatably guided between spaced eyes as 23a and 23h although they slightly project beyond stub portions 4Q of locking rod I2.

Interrupting each lug L is a relief and reentrant notch 46 which in the opened relation of the locking rod (Fig. 5) permits heads 31 of hooks I3 to be withdrawn from throats T.

Lugs -L straddle ears as 23h and cooperate therewith to .prevent longitudinal displacement of locking rod I2 which however is rotatably mounted in alined bearings 23, 23a and 23h.

With locking rod I2 closed as shown in Fig. 2 lugs 4I are contiguous to seats or stops H, thus bridging slot 21 to prevent removal of hooks I3 out of the latter. If rod I2 be rotated 180 to the position shown in Fig. 5, notches 46 are arranged above slots 21, permitting heads 31 to be lifted out of slots 21 and through throats T to be completely clear of the key plate or holder.

Heads 31 are wider than slots 21 and the latter are narrower than throats T. Consequently in the open relation of the locking rod, the keyhooks or key sustaining means I3 can be readily removed through and out of throats T of the keyholder or key retainer.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a keyholder Illa embodying the invention and illustrating a modified construction. The keyholder Ia is similar to the keyholder Il), with the exception that the crankshaft I2a is made of a single piece of wire and the offset portions Ma are pressed by a die or otherwise to one side, to thereby form notches 46a. Furthermore, the heads 31a of the key carrying loops I3a may have rounded tops instead of flat tops, as shown in Fig. 8.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a de.- y

vice in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having `thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a key holder for removably supporting key sustaining means each provided with an enlarged head, a plate having at its upper part a plurality of bowed portions defining spaced slots for receiving said key sustaining means but narrower than said heads, hollow beaded means delining alined and spaced bearings at the upper parts of said bowed portions and enlarged throats wider than said heads and slots and communieating with the latter, a rod having spaced lugs wider than said slots to preclude removal of said sustaining means out of the latter and interposed between said bearings in said throats and substantially coextensive with the widths of the latter, Said rod having cylindrical portions journalled in said bearings and rotatably guided by the latter, said lugs having notches for aligning with said slots on rotation of said rod to permit removal of said sustaining means out of said slots and through said throats, and manipulator means carried by said rod. Y

2. In a key holder for removably supporting key sustaining means each provided with an enlarged head, a plate having at its upper part a plurality of bowed portions defining spaced slots for receiving said key sustaining means but narrower than Said heads, hollow beaded means defining aligned and spaced bearings at the upper parts of said bowed portions and enlarged throats wider than said heads and slots and communicating with the latter and dening spaced vertical sides and horizontal aligned and spaced shoulders, a rod having spaced lugs interposed between said sides and having means for bridging said slots contiguous to said shoulders to preclude the removal of said sustaining means out of said slots, said rod having cylindrical portions journalled in said bearings and rotatably guidedby the latter, said lugs having notches for aligning with said slots on rotation of said rod to permit removal of said sustaining means out of said slots and through said throats, and manipulator means carried by said rod.

3. In a key holder for removably supporting key sustaining means each provided with an enlarged head, a plate having at its upper part a plurality of bowed portions dening spaced slots for receiving said key sustaining means but narrower than said heads, hollow beaded means defining aligned and spaced bearings at the upper parts of said portions and enlarged throats wider than said heads and slots and communicating with the latter and dening spaced vertical sides and horizontally alined and spaced shoulders, a

rod having spaced lugs closely but movably interposed between said sides and having overhanging means for bridging said slots contiguous to said shoulders to preclude the removal of said sustaining means out said slots and through said throats, said rod having cylindrical portions journalled in said bearings and rotatably guided by the latter, said lugs having other overhanging means including notches for aligning with said slots on rotation of said rod to permit removal of said sustaining means out of said slots and through said throats, and manipulator means carried by said rod, said lugs and sides cooperating to prevent longitudinal displacement of said rod relative to said holder.

HYMAN R. SEGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,432 Zahn Aug. 18, 1936 2,201,833 Koelling May 21, 1940 2,284,507 Behrman et al May 26, 1942 2,351,205 Harvey June 13, 1944 

